DHA advocates importance of weight management and early detection to prevent osteoarthritis.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, October 13, 2016:  Overweight and obese people face a significantly higher risk of developing knee osteoarthritis, said a top Dubai Health Authority(DHA) official. 

Dr Yaseen Shandala, orthopaedic surgeon at Dubai Hospital  advocated the importance of weight management and regular exercise to reduce the risk of osteoarthritis. 

Dr Shandala said: “Being overweight increases the load that you put on your joints  your knees, your hips and your ankle and can contribute to developing osteoarthritis in many ways. Increased weight puts added stress on weight-bearing joints, such as hips and knees. In addition, fat tissue produces proteins that may cause harmful inflammation in and around your joints. People should aim for weight control to reduce the chances of developing osteoarthritis.”

According to a survey conducted by the DHA in 2009, in which 5000 patients in the age group of 18-85 years were screened, it was found that that the main reasons for visiting a rheumatologist was lower back and knee pain.

The survey pointed out that the average Body Mass Index(BMI) of the 5000 responded was 28.5 whereas the normal BMI range is 18 to 25.

Speaking about musculoskeletal disorder like arthritis, he said early detection is essential to manage the disease.

“Arthritis affects the patient’s ability to perform even basic daily tasks like brushing teeth, washing hands and walking. The disease affects the quality of life due to significant disability and diminished productivity and therefore early detection is crucial.”

He said delaying treatment can lead to deformities or disabilities which cannot be reversed.

He said the main issue is awareness which will lead to early diagnosis and treatment. “ If patients experience pain accompanied by stiffness, it is advisable that they visit a rheumatologist. Also those who experience knee pain should visit a doctor to get a weight bearing x-ray done which allows the doctor to see the joint space in the knee and plan treatment accordingly.”